Prozac Withdrawal Timeline, Symptoms, and Coping

Hyperbolic tapering involves very similar reductions to the simple proportional tapering explained above. Some of the doses suggested in Example 2 do not exactly follow the proportional rule. Using liquid needs to be very carefully managed so that there are no mistakes with the dose. Speak to your prescriber or pharmacist if you are moving from tablet to liquid, to make sure that you are converting your dose correctly. If uncomfortable symptoms develop with your first dose reduction, or at any further reduction, stop the reduction. Go back to the last dose at which you felt comfortable and wait until you feel ready to try again.

Discontinuing any prescription medication should only take place under your doctor’s supervision. If your doctor does recommend that you stop taking Prozac, follow the steps below. One important goal at the center is to help our clients improve mental health naturally.

If you start to get suicidal thoughts or ideas when reducing and stopping an antidepressant, this could be a withdrawal symptom, or the return of depression. They will probably suggest that you go back to the last dose at which you felt well. If an antidepressant is stopped too quickly, the brain and body will need time to adjust back again. The sudden lowering of neurotransmitter levels seems to produce withdrawal symptoms, while the brain adjusts to the change.

Eating more fruit at midlife may help ward off later-life depression

There’s no way to predict if you will have discontinuation symptoms after quitting an antidepressant. Scientists are not exactly sure why some people develop antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, while others do not. Below is an example that can help you to understand the principles of diluting liquid antidepressants to taper off your medication. It is best to discuss this with your prescriber or pharmacist so you feel confident to undertake a process like the one below. However, the example you follow will depend on your individual needs.

If you think you or someone else is experiencing a Prozac overdose, seek medical attention immediately. If you are experiencing Prozac withdrawal, talk to your doctor about remedies that might help. They can refer you to a therapist, prescribe medications that may help, or suggest other approaches that you may find helpful.

Translations of our mental health information

You should adjust your tapering plan as you go, depending on the withdrawal symptoms you experience, rather than choosing a plan and sticking to it no matter what. If you have no trouble at all making reductions, then you may be able to speed up your tapering plan. You might be able to leave less time between dose reductions or take less steps. This can help ensure you are not taking your medication for longer than necessary. This is based on an understanding of how antidepressants affect the brain. Small doses of antidepressants have much larger effects on the brain than we might expect, so tapering needs to be slower at lower doses.

Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms

• Trying to wean off Prozac without such preparation, planning and medical oversight can be daunting and unpredictable.
• While many of these dissipate over time, sexual side effects may continue even after you have stopped taking the drug.
• We have suggested some commonly used antidepressants that might be appropriate for the two styles of tapering.
• Your best strategy for going off your medicine is to taper your doses down slowly.
• For example, 2mg of citalopram has half the effect on serotonin transporter inhibition as 40mg​22​.

It can include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. One of the reasons long-term antidepressant use is so common is that people are afraid to stop taking them. These concerns center around the potential for relapse of symptoms and possible withdrawal. Taking days off within the week is a common strategy to encourage drinking less overall. “Many people still want to enjoy socializing but are mindful of wanting to average one to two drinks per day.

Sustained- and extended-release tablets can be split with the understanding that splitting will compromise their slow-release properties; therefore they should be treated as immediate-release formulations. Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.

• Below are some ideas to help people reduce their drinking by alcohol tapering.
• Antidepressants are thought to increase levels of these chemicals in the space between nerve cells in the brain, and in the nerves throughout the body and gut.
• The good news is that among the SSRIs, Prozac is the least likely to cause withdrawal symptoms.
• Research suggests that anywhere from 56% to 80% of people who attempt to come off antidepressants experience symptoms of medication withdrawal or discontinuation.
• Prozac (fluoxetine) is classified as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), which are, in most cases, generally recommended to be slowly tapered down over time, to avoid potential withdrawal symptoms.
• Many clinicians attempt to reduce doses by extending the dosing interval (e.g. ‘every-other-day’ dosing).
• Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary.

What symptoms might you experience when stopping antidepressants and how severe can they be?

If that’s not an option, you can at least make yourself more comfortable until these unpleasant symptoms pass. You explain to him that it would be worth approaching his GP again, perhaps showing the NICE or Royal College of Psychiatrists guidelines that recommend a liquid version of the drug, or approaching another GP. If he is unable to obtain this formulation, then it is possible to open up the capsule and to count (or weigh) beads. Based on the degree of withdrawal symptoms, this rate could be adjusted so that the process is tolerable. It is not unusual for it to take more than a year to safely stop venlafaxine after long-term use.

If you have no trouble tapering

Below you will find example plans for tapering at different speeds. The General Medical Council (GMC) says that medical how to taper off prozac 10mg professionals should aim to use licensed medications but can use unlicensed medications if there is no licensed alternative. It is probably best, right from the start, to use more gradual reductions.

Ready for a more personal experience with your meds?

These can include brain zaps, dizziness, mood changes, irritability, anxiety, headaches, confusion, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts. Research suggests that anywhere from 56% to 80% of people who attempt to come off antidepressants experience symptoms of medication withdrawal or discontinuation. How long your withdrawal symptoms last will depend on several factors such as which medicine you took and how long you took it. All anti-depressants can potentially lead to withdrawal symptoms, but some are more likely to do so than others. Drugs that your body breaks down (metabolizes) quickly are more likely to cause antidepressant withdrawal symptoms than others.